The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller said he is “glad to get the hell out” of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation as its executive chairman amid speculation that a new BEC board is to be installed by the end of the week.

According to well placed sources yesterday, a new board chairman and members are expected to officially be in place on Friday. This board is set to meet with BEC’s new American management company PowerSecure within two weeks, the source said.

However, when asked whether he was given notice of the changes, Mr Miller said he was unaware.

“I don’t know anything about them picking a new board yet,” Mr Miller told The Tribune, “as far as I know Prime Minister Christie has not selected anyone and I don’t imagine they will get to discussing that until about Thursday.

“But I tell you one thing I will be glad to get the hell out and go. I am tired of the foolishness at BEC.

“I have already spoken to both Mr Christie and Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and they have agreed that I will vacate the post in about two weeks when the building is painted, renovated, and renamed.”

Mr Miller lashed out at BEC’s management saying the corporation in its current form lacked accountability, which has caused more than $250m in losses. 

He said around 50 employees were allowed to run their personal businesses out of BEC using the corporation’s materials and resources without consequences. 

“I intend to go back to BEC one day, but right now I need to go. There has never been any accountability at BEC, none whatsoever

“In 10 years more than $250m lost at BEC.  There are at least 50 people in BEC running their businesses out of there. One got a contract for $4.2m and stole BEC’s time, equipment and materials.

“We called them in and tried to bring consequences, but then they go to their higher powers. So what is a person like me to do?”

Last week, Mr Miller insisted that he will leave the corporation “when I want to leave BEC.”

He said while the time frame for leaving the corporation was left up to him by Mr Christie, he had decided to leave after the renaming of BEC’s main building after former general manager Peter Bethel.

Mr Miller said the renaming and preparations therein should take about three weeks.

Mr Miller made his statements hours after the government signed a Transition Services Agreement with American company PowerSecure for management of BEC. He said he hoped the new company would be able to curtail the culture of “slackness” that exists at BEC.